Three numbers and the Astros need to end the Dayan Diaz experience

Despite a late inning scare, the Astros survived and swept the Athletics in Oakland.

If you were like me then you found yourself at work while the Astros played an afternoon game. No shame in that as this is how us non-athletes make a living.

Anyway, the Astros survived a George Springer hit-by-pitch on his left hand and a Dayan Diaz meltdown to sweep the A’s in Oakland. A rare road sweep, hi-oh!

141 wRC+

There is no doubt George Springer is one of the Astros best players. While he does have his streaks, good and bad, the value he brings to the field is immense. Like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, there simply isn’t a replacement for Springer.

This is why every Astros fan and observer held their collective breath when Springer was another casualty of a hit-by-pitch.

Ironically, this situation somewhat mirrored Correa’s own hit-by-pitch scare against the A’s on the Saturday before Easter. And Houston dodged a bullet twice this season.

Fortunately for Springer, the outfielder is listed as day-to-day with a left-hand contusion.

At least our fears weren’t realized yesterday. And the Astros didn’t have to scramble to replace an 141 wRC+ batter in the lineup in the long-term.

5 earned runs

When the score was 12-to-3 in the bottom of the eighth, it seem as though the Astros would easily cruise to their 50th victory of the season.

Then Dayan Diaz happened.

1/3 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, SO

Entering the top of the ninth, the Astros found themselves in a slight predicament. Don’t you know the plan was not for Chris Devenski to pitch. And possibly Michael Feliz as well. A nine-run lead likely means Diaz was intended to finish the game.

When it was all said and done, the Astros did come away with a victory. That’s all that matters. And Springer’s brush with a bear-certain DL trip until the x-rays came back negative. It’s become likely though that Diaz will be one of the first casualties on the roster once the real rotation returns from the disabled list.

-8 Game Score

Bear with me as the -8 game score does not belong to the Astros starter yesterday, Felipe Paulino. By the way, Paulino posted a 51 game score.

No, the -8 game score belongs to none other than A’s starter Jesse Hahn.

I wonder if Hahn is of any relation to a fishing guide I know from Matagorda? Probably not.

Anyway, I digress.

The A’s starter was basically lit up by one of the best offenses in baseball. But I’ll admit that nine earned runs in just two innings will make any pitcher’s day short. There was also an unearned run thrown in there, but the nails in the coffin had already been hammered in by that point.

Next: Astros: Charlie Morton throws two innings in rehab start

Needless to say, Houston’s offense is quite good and a major reason why the team has won fifty games only seventy-four games into the season. This is also the fastest a Houston team has reached fifty wins in franchise history. So, that’s something, good, right? Or depressing? I guess it depends on your point of view.

**Statistics courtesy of Fangraphs and MLB.com**